Face steaming mask



Jan. 16, 1934. H. RIESENBERG 1,943,992

FACE STEAMING MASK Filed Sept. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Pf 'Ficjr Inventor:

' blz/Viry Wigs-WEEK? ttoreljs.

Jan. 16, 1934. H. RIESENBERG FACE STEAMING MASK Filed sept. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Patentes .im 1e, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFfFlcE This invention relates to a device for treating the face of a person with various gaseous materials such as steam, cold or medicated air, etc. It is now common to steam the face of a person for softening the beard before shaving. It is also common to have the face steamed in beauty parlors for cleansing and other purposes, and it is often desirable to bathe the face with medicated vapors in the treatment of diseases or face blemishes. It is also often desired to enclose the face for the purpose of inhaling medicated vapors for treating colds and diseases of the nose, throat and lungs.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple and eflicient device including means enclosing the face, by means of which the face can be steamed or treated with other gases or vapors.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a face treating device comprising a mask including an upper rigid portion and a lower skirt portion formed of thin flexible material, together with means for holding said skirt portion tightly against the face.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for treating the face, comprising a mask enclosing the face having a transparent portion at the top or front thereof, a flexible portion tting tightly about they face and head, means for delivering steam or other vapor to the mask and means by which the patient can breathe air from outside of the mask, said latter means preferably being readily movable or adjustable by the patient.

It is another object of the invention to provide a face treating apparatus comprising a standard, a steam generating means on said standard, a conduit connected to said means by a swinging steam-tight joint, a mask connected to said conduit by a swinging steam-tight joint whereby said mask can be swung to position on the patients face, and can also depend from said conduit with the latter in upright position when not in use.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a face treating apparatus comprising a mask having au upper rigid portion and a lower portion of flexible material tightly secured thereto extending around said rigid portion and depending therefrom, said rigid portion carrying a plurality of spring-pressed means engasi-DE said lower portion to press the same against the face.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a face treating apparatus comprising a mask lowing description made in connection with the 55 accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:-

Flg. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation showingl the 7 mask in vertical position;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the mask,ithe same being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the breathing member; beFig. 5 is a view in side elevation of said mem- Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of said member;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of a plug used;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in rear elevation and partly in transverse section on line 8-8 of Figs. 2 and 9:

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view in rear elevation of the nose breathing cup; and

Fig. 13 is a view partly in side elevation and uHtly in central vertical section of the mask Referring to the drawings, a device is shown comprising a standard 15 and while this standard might be variously made, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as comprising a vertical tubular member having a pedestal 15a at its bottom comprising downwardly and outwardly curved arms provided at their lower ends with caster wheels 16. Said tubular member has a collar or enlargement 15b at its upper end having a lateral boss tapped to receive a wheel equipped screw 17 adapted at its inner end to engage and hold in position an extension of said standard shown as a cylindrical member 18. Member 18 can be telescoped into member 15 and drawn therefrom and held at various heights by tightening the screw 17. Member 18' carries at its,

upper end a casing 18a. having a switch box 19 at one side thereofv containing a suitable electric switch provided with an operating handle 20 by which it can be turned to closed and open positions. Casing 18a also has secured at opposite sides thereof blocks 21 which may be of insulating material and which support a heating element 22. Heating element 22 is supplied with electric current through conductors 23 extending from switch box 19 and current is supplied to said switch box and switch therein by an electric cord 24 shown as extending outward through a boss on casing 18a. A bracket 25 is secured to casing 18a and this bracket and said casing support a boiler or steam-generating` device 26. While this can be of any vsuitable construction, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as comprising a chamber 26a above heater 22 and a supply chamber 2Gb at one side of the chamber 26a. Chamber 26h has an automatic feeder 27 of any suitable type such as the well known inverted bottle feeder at its upper end. Member 26 has a boss 26j at its rear end with a threaded opening therethrough closed by a threaded and headed plug 26g, said plug being readily removable. A container 261 is carried by member 26 at the side opposite chamber 28h said container having a hinged lid 269' and being of cylindrical form. Member 26 at its top has a portion 26e having therein a cylindrical chamber in which is fitted a perforated cylindrical shell 28 having a threaded stud 28a projecting therefrom. An arm 29 has a central hub threaded to screw onto the stud 28a, said arm also having an annular portion about its central hub into which the reduced portion 26d projects. A packing washer 30 surrounds the central hub of arm 29 and engages the outer side of shell 28. A rigid washer 31 engages packing lwasher 30 and is in turn engaged by one end of a compression coil spring 32 which engages the arm 29 in the bottom of the annular groove formed therein. Arm 29 carries at its outer end a ball 29a forming a counterweight for conduit 34a and the parts carried thereby. A pin 33 is fitted in one side of the stud 28a and arm 29 to prevent turning movement of said arm. The flanged end 34a ofthe tube 34 extends into the chamber vin the top of member 26 and engages the open end of shell 28 and projects through the open end of a threaded reduced portion 26e on portion 26e. A cap 35 is threaded onto portion 26e tting about tube 34 and packing material 36 is disposed between cap 35 and the end of portion 26e and about tube 34. A coupling member 37 joins tube 34 to a similar tube 34h which extends outward and is then bent at a right angle and extends for quite a distance when it is again bent at a right angle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and as shown in Fig. 8 is received in a cap member 38. Cap member 38 is interiorly threaded at its end to screw onto the reduced threaded portion 39a of valve casing 39. A packing washer 40 is disposed between the flanged end 34e of tube 34h and portion 39a and a coiled compression spring 41 has one end bearingagainst the inner end of cap 38 and its other end bearing against the flanged end 34e of tube 34h. Tubes 34 and 34h are thus connected to portion 26e of member 26 by a swivel joint which is kept steam-tight and tube 34h is likewise connected to the valve casing 39 by a swivel joint. Tube 34h can be oscillated about the axis of tube 34 and valve casing 39 and tube 34h are relatively oscillatable about the axis of the flanged end of tube 34h. Valve casing 89 has a chamber 39h therein with which tube 34h communicatesgand said casing has a valve seat 39e formed at one side thereof with which a frusto-conical valve 42 cooperates, the same being secured to a valve stem 43 threaded into a hanged gland 44 having a reduced threaded portion receiving a packing cap 45 containing a packing 46 which is disposed about stem 43. Stem 43 has an operating wheel 47 at its outer end.- Valve casing 39 has a tubelike portion 39d extending from one side thereof beyond the valve seat 39e which terminates in a ilange 39e which is riveted to a rigid portion 48a of a mask 48, flange 39e surrounding an opening in member 48a so that tube 34h thus communicates with the inner side of mask 48through member 39d when valve 42 is open. APortion 39d has an upwardly projecting threaded portion 39f onto which is screwed the interiorly threaded -depending flange of the casing 49. Casing 49 constitutes a pump cylinder in which a plunger 50 is reciprocable, the samev being carried on the plunger rod 51 extending through the cap 49a threaded on casing 49, said rod having a handle 51a at its outer end shown as in the shape of a ball or knob. Casing 49 has a bottom therein with a central aperture 49h having an annular sharprib depending about its lower side, which rib forms a valve seat and is engaged by a at valve 52 'pressed to closed position by a compression coil spring 53. A casing 49c shown as rectangular in form extends to one sider of casing 49, the same having a hinged lid 49d and having a hinged valve 54 adjacent its bottom adapted to open and close an opening extending into the cylindrical portion of casing 49, said valve opening inwardly into said cylindrical portion. From the described structure it will be seen that opening 49h is normally closed, but that valve 52 can be opened and a gas forced into the portion 39d by operation of the plunger 50. It will also be seen that as plunger 50 is raised, valve 54 can open and permit the entrance of gas from casing 49c into the pump cylinder and that valve 54 will close upon the downstroke of plunger 50. i

The mask 48 comprises the upper rigid member 48a which has its lower portion or periphery substantially oval in outline as shown in Fig. 2 and this member will be formed of some suitable light material such as aluminum or composition material. Member 48a isshown as having a hat top and said top has an opening therein surrounded by a depending semi-spherical flange 48h. Said top also has an opening 48e therein 130 surrounded by a iiat ange 48d. A top plate 55 is provided, having a semi-spherical iiange 55a coaxial with flange 48h and vhaving an `opening 55h co-extensive with opening 48e. Plate r55 is connected to member 48a by a plurality of small 135 screws 56 and has a flange 55e spaced some distance from anges 48d, a pane of glass or other transparent material 57 being disposed between said flanges. Member 48a has a boss 48e at one end, adapted to receive a thermometer 58 for 140 indicating the. temperature within the mask. Mask 48 has secured to its lower portion a skirt 48f. This skirt will be made of thin flexible material preferably elastic, such as thin sheet rubber. Skirt 48j is secured in steam-tight relation 145 to member 48a by a series of rivets 59. Member 48a has at its outer side and its lower edge a series 0f apertured lugs 48g rigid with said member and shafts 60 are'secured in these lugs by pins 61. Collars 62 are disposed on shafts 60 adjacent the 150 lugs 48g at one end thereof, being pinned thereto by` the pin 63 and said collars have ratchet toothed outer faces 62a. Levers 64 are provided. having hubs pivoted on the shafts respectively, each oi' said levers comprising an outwardly extending handle arm 64a and a downwardly extending arm having a ilat ilange 64b which engages and is connected to the skirt 48! by small rivets 65. The skirt 48! has an inturned thin-edged lip 48h forming a trough about the inner side of said skirt. The hub oi lever 64 is also provided at one end with the reduced portion having the ratchet-toothed face 64e adapted to engage with the toothed face 62a. A coiled torsion spring 66 surrounds shaft 60 between each lever 64 and lug 48g and has one end secured in the hub of lever 64 and its other end secured in the lug 48g. Spring 66 also acts to move lever 64 to cause engagement between the ratchet faces on the same and adjacent collar 62. The skirt 48! has a flexible tube 67 connected thereto at one end which leads from the trough at its lower side and is adapted vto drain away any liquid collecting in said trough. Tube 67 is shown as extending to the standard 15 through which a drain means will be provided.

'Ihe semi-spherical iiange 55a on member 55 and the co-axial flange 48h on member 48 embrace a ball member 68. 'Ihis ball member is oscillatable in any direction and has a cylindrical opening therethrough in which is slidably iltted a tube 69. Tube 69 is open at its ends and has a wheel-shaped handle 69a at its outer end by which it can be manipulated. As shown in Fig. 13, a seal is maintained between tube 69 and ball 68. Tube 69 at its lower end is adapted to receive a breathing member 70. y

In Figs. 12 and 13 a nose breathing member is shown, adapted to ilt over the nostrils of the patient as indicated in Fig. 1 so that the patient can breathe through his nose and breathe air from outside of the mask. Member 70 is shown in central vertical section in Fig. 13 and in rear elevation in Fig. 12. It will be seen that said member comprises an upper hub portion with a small flange adapted to tightlyilt over the lower end of the tube 69. Said member is open at its rear side so as to iit against the top of the nose and extend down the sides thereof and has its lower bottom portion 70a slightly concave to ilt tightly against the upper lip of the patient. When member 70 is in place, the nostrils are thus covered and as stated, the patient can breathe through member 70. .It is desirable at times, as when medicated vapors are being used in the mask and when it is desired to have the patient breathe the vapors, to close the outer end of the tube 69 and for this purpose a small headed plug 7l shown in Fig. 7 is provided. Plug 7l comprises a cylindrical shank of a size to t in the top of the tube 69 and said plug also has a round iiat head at one end. A

Another breathing member 72 is provided, constituting a combination mouth and nose breathing member. This member as shown in Figs. 4,

5 and 6 also has an upper ilanged hub portion 72a adapted to be positioned over the lower end of the tube 69. Said member also has a ilaring front lower portion with substantially parallel walls, said walls having their bottom edges concave to fit the upper and lower lips at either side of the mouth. At one side member 72 has a laterally projecting portion 72b with its rear side shaped substantially the same as the rearside otmember 70, this member also being adapted to fit against the nose and prevent the ,vapor in the mask from entering the nostrils. Member 72 vwill have an opening 72o at its front portion opening into portion 72b. When member 72 is used in place of member 70, the patient can breathe through both the nose and mouth, if desired.

In the use of the device it is desirable to have a head rest for the patient so that the face is in substantially horizontal position. For this purpose the head rest 73 is shown in Fig. l, which may be the head rest of a barbers chair or the head rest of a similar chair such as used in a beauty parlor.

In operation the standard 15 is positioned adjacent the chair in which the patient sits and which will have a head rest such as the head rest 73 on which the head of the patient may rest. The patient being in position, the mask 48 is swung about the axis of the flanged end of pipe 34h and positioned so that the skirt 48! engages the head and face of the patient as shown in Fig. l. The skirt 48! is made small enough to tightly embrace the tace along the line indicated, without any folding or wrinkling. When the edge of the skirt is brought to approximate position, the operator will adjust the levers 64 so that the proper inward pressure is had on the skirt to press the same against the face. The springs 66 t'end to move the portion 64b inward with considerable force. but the inward position of the portion 64b can be determined by engaging the ratchet teeth 64o in diierentpositions in the teeth 62a. The operator can thus adjust the levers 64 individually and arrange the skirt so that the same engages the head and face and forms a substantially steam-tight seal for the mask 48. When the patients face is to lbe steamed, current will be supplied to the heater 22 through cord 24, the switch 20 being moved to closed position. Steam will be generated and will pass through the perforations of member 28 into said member and will pass through tube 34 and tube 34h into the valve casing 39. Hand wheel 47 will be operated to open valve 42 to the desired extent. Steam will now be admitted through the tube portion 39d into the mask 48 and this will fill the space within the mask and contact the face of the patient. Before the valve 42 is opened, tube 69 and member 70 will be positioned to have member 70 fit tightly over the nose of the patient and around the upper lip. The patient can then breathe through the nose and breathe air from outside of the mask through the tube 69. It will be noted that tube 69 can be oscillated in any direction by movement of the ball 68 and can be moved inwardly or outwardly by sliding in ball 68. It will be noted that the patient can easily reach the handle 69a and'can adjust the nose piece 76 to suit himself, so that he can breathe comfortably. If it is desired to have the patient breathe through the mouth, the larger piece 72 can be substituted for the member 70 and this will enclose boththe nose and mouth so that the patient can breathe through either. The treatment can becontinued as long as desired, and the temperature in the mask will be indicated by the thermometer 58. Any steam which may condense will pass into the trough formed by the lip 48h and will drain oi! through tube 67.

If it is desired to treat the face with medicated vapor or other vapor, the material forming the same can be placed in the casing 49e. Pump plunger 50 can then be operated by reciprocating the' handle 51a and the vapor will be drawn from casing 41 through the valve 54 and pumped into the tubular portion 39d and into the mask. Cold air can thus be pumped into the mask by placing dry ice or frozen carbon dioxide or other refrigerant in casing 49e. A tube leading from anyl vapor generating outtlt can have its end inserted through boss 26j, plug 26a being removed, and furnish any vapor which it is desired to have pass into the mask with the steam. Medicaments to be dissolved, and any other materials desired to furnish a vapor can also be placed in boiler 26 through the boss 26fvand the vapors passed into the mask with the steam. When medicated vapors are used in the mask for treating a cold or other diseases, the tube 69 can be closed at its top by the plug 71.

When the device is not in use,- the tube 34a can be swung about the axis of tube 34 and member 28 and will depend from the valve casing39 as shown in Fig. 2. As stated, the joints connecting tube 34 with the member 26 and the nanged end of the tube 34h with thelcaslng 39 are kept tight and at the same time form swinging joints. The said joints have considerable friction and the parts will remain in the position towhich they are moved. The swinging of the mask is made easier by the counterweight 29a, and when the mask is moved to vertical position as shown in Fig. 2, it will be held in this position by said counterweight. When the mask is in vertical position, the device takes up very little room.

The container 261' is provided for receiving the breathing members '70 or 72 and can also be used to hold various medicaments which may be used with the device.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very efiicient device f or treating the face with steam or other vapors. The device is compact and easily portable and can be quickly and easily manipulated. The same can be used for steaming the face for softening ythe beard previous to shaving, or it can be used for steaming the face for other purposes. As above described. it canalso be used for treating the face with various medicaments or medicated vapors as well as for treating diseases of the nose, throat, and lungs. It is apparent that the device will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed isz- 1. A mask for applying a treating medium to the face comprising a rigid elongated oval member adapted to be positioned over the face, a skirt portion extending around and depending from said member formed of a thin flexible material adapted to engage the face to form a seal, said skirt being connected in steam-tight manner to said member and means holding said skirt against the face and yieldable resiliently Eoutward.

2. In a face treating apparatus, a mask adapted to t around the face, a hollow means fitting over the nose of the patient having a conduit secured thereto and extending slidably through said mask to maintain a seal to the outer side thereof to permit breathing of air, said means being movable and having a portion disposed at the outer side of said mask in position to be manipulated by the patient.

3. In a face treating apparatus, a mask adapted to lit around the face, a hollow means fitting over the nose of the patient and extending to the outer side of said mask to permit breathing of air, said means comprising a ball swivelly mounted in said mask, and a tube fitting in and slidable through said ball to permit movement of said means in various directions.

4. A mask for applying a treating medium to the face comprising a rigid elongated oval mem- `ber adapted to be positioned over the face, a

skirt portion extending around and depending from said member fiormed of thin flexible material, a plurality of spring-pressed members carried by said member and adapted to press said skirt inwardly against the face and means for varying the pressure said spring pressed members exert on said skirt.

5. A mask for applying a treating medium to the face comprising a rigid elongated oval member adapted to be positioned over the face, and a skirt portion extending around and depending from said member formed of thin flexible material, and a plurality of handle levers pivotally mounted on said member adjacent the upper portion of said skirt and having arms extending downwardly and secured to said skirt, springs urging said arms toward said skirt, and means for limiting the inward movement of said arms.

6. A device for treating the face comprising a mask having a rigid upper portion and a lower portion of flexible material, means for holding said flexible material against the face, a conduit secured to said rigid portion and communicating with/the interior thereof, a chamber adjacent said mask, and a pump having an inlet communicating with said chamber and a discharge outlet connected to said conduit for forcing gaseous material into said mask.

7. A mask for applying a treating medium to the face comprising a rigid .elongated oval member adapted to be positioned over the face, said member having a fiat top portion comprising a transparent section, and a skirt portion of thin flexible material extending around and secured to said member in sealing relation adapted t'o extend about the head and face of the patient, and resiliently acting means holding said skirt in contact with the face.

8..A device for treating the face having in combination, a mask comprising a rigid elonlgated member, a skirt extending about said member and secured thereto in steam-tight relation, the edge of said skirt in operation extending substantially horizontally or at a small angle to the horizontal, said skirt having a trough formed at its inner side adjacent its lower edge and extending about said edge, means for supplying steam to said mask, and a drain means leading from said trough for carrying away liquid from said trough.

9. A mask for applying a treating medium to the face comprising a rigid portion adapted to be positioned over the face, the skirt portion extending around and depending from said rigid portion and formed of a thin ilexible material adapted to engage the face to form a seal, and a plurality of members carried by said rigid portion and engaging said skirt adjacent its edge to press the same against the face, and resilient means acting on said members permitting yieldlng movement thereof.

10. A face treating apparatus having in combination, a rest for the head wherebyl the face is disposed substantially horizontally and upwardly, a mask having a rigid portion disposed substantially horizontally when in operative position, and a skirt portion of flexible material de-l pending therefrom having an edge shaped to fit about the face and neck in tight relation thereto,

said skirt having an inturned lip at its edge of resilient material yieldingly engaging the face and acting to form a trough for the drainage of moisture.

11. A face treating apparatus having in combination, a mask having a rigid top portion adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally in operative position and having a skirt of flexible material depending therefrom, the edge portion of said skirt having an inturned lip of resilient material adapted to adjustably and yieldably engage the face in tight engagement therewith, and a plurality of means for resiliently holding said edge portion against the face.

12. A face treating apparatus having in combination, a mask adapted to enclose the face and form a tight engagement about the same, said face and mask being disposed substantially horizontally in operative position, a rigid conduit secured to said mask, a rigid conduit pivotally connected to said conduit, a standard having a support thereon, said last mentioned conduit having a'portion joumaled in said support about a substantially horizontal axis, and a counterweight connected to said last mentioned conduit acting to raise the same and said mask and swing it about the axis of said portion to balance the weight ofsaid mask.

13. A device for treating the face having in combination, a mask comprising a rigid upper portion, a skirt depending from said portion and made of flexible material, a plurality of shafts disposed about said mask and journaled in said rigid portion, levers secured to said shafts having handle arms, and arms secured to said skirt adjacent its edge, springs on said shafts secured to said levers to swing said edge of said skirt inwardly, land means for limiting the inward movement of said levers.

14. A device for treating the face comprising a mask having a rigid upper portoin, a skirt depending from said rigid portion formed of thin flexible and elastic material, the edge of said skirt having an inturned lip terminating in a thin edge adapted to be pressed against the face to form a tight joint therewith, said lip being yieldable and conforming to the face.

15. A device for 'treating the face comprising a mask adapted to extend over the face and having a depending skirt portion of thin flexible material, the edge of said mask when in operative position sloping toward one end, said skirt portion having a trough formed on its inner wall and extending about the same to form a drain means.

16. A face treating device having in `combination, a supporting means, a conduit oscillatably mounted in said support and arranged to be connected to a steam supply means, said conduit being disposed about a substantially horizontal axis, a bracket to which the other end of said conduit is swivelly connected by a steamtight joint, a mask adapted to t over and engage the face, to which said bracket is secured and with which said conduit communicates to supply steam thereto, whereby said conduit may swing in said support to an upright position with said mask elevated and depending therefrom.

17. The structure set forth in claim 16, a counterweght attached to said conduit adjacent said support and swingable adjacent the same to raise said conduit to said upright position.

HENRY RIESENBERG. 

